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The top daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/4/23. Mike Marteny provides NBA DFS analysis and sleeper picks for building optimal DFS rosters.
There are only eight teams left standing in the quest for the NBA title, so we will see a lot more of these showdown situations in the coming weeks. This just gives us some good practice before the NBA Finals start, right?
Showdowns are a little different. On DraftKings, you have a "captain" that scored 1.5x points but is also 1.5x the price. On FanDuel, there are no price multipliers, but points still are for several slots. The MVP slot scores double the points. The Star scores 1.5x points. The pro slot scores 1.2x points. There are also two utility slots that score the normal point value. Are you ready?
This article will provide you with my daily fantasy basketball lineup picks for DraftKings and FanDuel on 5/4/23. Remember to monitor the NBA injury report as the slate can completely change before the lineup locks at 9:00 pm EST. Good luck, RotoBallers!
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DraftKings and FanDuel Captain/MVP - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Stephen Curry, GS ($16,800 DK; $15,500 FD)
As good as Davis was in Game 1, Curry still has a higher ceiling. This is especially true if the Warriors ride him early in Game 2 like they did in the fourth quarter in Game 1 to avoid falling behind again. Curry has the highest ceiling on either team and it isn't really close. I would make sure to try and get Davis in the Star slot on FD if running Curry at MVP just in case he goes off again. The price difference on DK isn't that large, but I'm siding with Curry because he likely won't have two below-average games at home to start the series.
Kevon Looney, GS ($8,000 DK; $12,000 FD)
Looney has posted back-to-back double-doubles for the Warriors going back to Game 7 of the Kings series. Looney has been an absolute beast on the glass for the entire playoffs. He has topped 20 boards in four of the last six games. That's a lot of points just waiting to be multiplied in the captain slot on DK or the MVP/Pro slot on FD. Play Looney for the rebounds. Stick around for the efficient scoring that sometimes gets him into double figures.
Also consider: Anthony Davis ($17,100 DK, $15,500 FD)
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DraftKings and FanDuel Utility Plays - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
LeBron James, LAL ($11,000 DK; $16,000 FD)
If you don't use one of LeBron or Davis, you are likely going to be nowhere near the top of any leaderboard. This team is centered on those two players. Anything beyond them is a DFS nightmare as no one has really stepped up as the reliable third option. Reaves did at times in the Memphis series and Russell looked good in Game 1 of this series. Can you really count heavily enough on one of them to pick up the slack if the Warriors do manage to limit both A.D. and LeBron? It's far more likely that one of the two stars go off no matter the outcome of the game.
Draymond Green, GS ($7,600 DK; $13,500 FD)
The floor is everything you would want in a DFS player. Draymond stuffs the stat sheets with peripherals while his teammates light up the scoreboard. It is a successfully proven method and the Warriors have four trophies to prove it. You may not be able to rely on Draymond for points, but he is still a triple-double threat without doing much in the way of scoring.
Others to consider: D'Angelo Russell ($7,400 DK; $11,000 FD)
DraftKings and FanDuel Value Plays - NBA DFS Lineup Picks
Jordan Poole, GS ($6,000 DK; $9,000 FD)
Most bailed on Poole after lackluster performances in Games 6 and 7 against the Kings. He found his shooting stroke in Game 1, dumping in 21 points while handing out six assists. The Warriors have made it clear that Poole will see plenty of court time, especially when his shot is falling. I'm a little hesitant about going back to Poole, but the price is reasonable and the Lakers' perimeter defense has been shaky for much of the season. Instant offensive players like Poole always have a place in DFS circles, especially when they aren't priced all that high.
Dennis Schroder, LAL ($4,200 DK; $7,500 FD)
This is what Lakers fans and the front office were waiting for: a performance like Schroder had in Game 1. Some consistency would be nice, but we know Schroder's ceiling is rather high and his price is very low, especially on DK. Schroder makes a lot of things fit. We just have to hope that he can remain efficient from the field and continue to get to the line. He made all eight of his free throws in the Memphis series, but they only came in two games. He didn't make it to the line in the other four.
Others to consider: Jarred Vanderbilt ($4,800 DK, $7,500 FD)
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